EMPLOYMENT

Heather Desmarais has joined Westerly Community Credit Union as the Marketing Manager. She comes to WCCU with 10 years of marketing experience and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Communication from Bryant University. In her last role, she worked for a global company where was responsible for the implementation of the U.S. marketing strategy and led the launch of a new product. Desmarais lives in West Greenwich, R.I. For more information, go to www.westerlyccu.com.

Ashley Breunich has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing of William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty. She had served one year as Director of Marketing. William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty has more than 1,000 sales associates in 26 brokerages spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Westchester County, New York, including an office on Halls Road, Old Lyme. For more information, visit www.williampitt.com.

WORKSHOPS

SCORE:

"Marketing Your Business with Email," LinkedIn expert Susan Catalano and digital marketing expert Robert Clark, Wednesday, Jan. 27, noon-1:30 p.m., Zoom.

Small Business Sales Techniques, Eric Munro,Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30–7 p.m., Zoom.

"Marketing Fundamentals," Margo Weitekamp, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5–6:30 p.m., Zoom.

Contact for questions/info: Anne Driscoll, anne.driscoll@scorevolunteer.org.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a virtual conversation with The Human Resources Consortium, LLC, on "Shifting into Change Management Overdrive to Win" on Monday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m.-noon. Fran Morton, Change Management Practice Leader, and Regan MacBain Traub, Founder & Managing Principal, will present a webinar on the art of Change Management and provide strategies to support an organization's ability to effectively adapt or transform. Chamber members free; nonmembers $25. To register or learn more, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will co-host "CT Paid Leave: What You Need to Know" with Andrea Reeves Barton, Inaugural CEO of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 10-11 a.m. To register or learn more, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

NETWORKING

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host Coffee and Contacts, virtual networking with the Chamber, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 8:30-9:30 a.m. To register or learn more, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

Nancy D. Butler of Waterford will be a speaker at Conference 21 on Feb. 20-21, which will help entrepreneurs prepare for the upcoming year. Butler will be one of 32 speakers over 2 days covering a wide array of topics. Cost is $21. To register, visit https://aboveallelse.krtra.com/t/Ry35lHcYdaXc. For more information, contact Butler at nbutler@aboveallelse.org.

GIVING

The Arc Eastern Connecticut received a $2,303 grant from Charter Oak Federal Credit Union's Community Giving Program to develop an iPad Lending Library for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live alone and who during the pandemic might otherwise remain isolated. For more information, visit www.TheArcECT.org.

Applications from organizations serving communities in southeastern Connecticut, the greater New Haven area, and southern Rhode Island will be considered for Pfizer Inc. grants. Priority will be given to programs that bring STEM to students from elementary through high school. Additional grants will be made to programs that provide for the underserved or to support local civic and cultural institutions. Grants will range from $1,000 and will not exceed $5,000. Applications are available at www.cybergrants.com/pfizer_usrd/communitygiving. Deadline is March 21. For more information, email PfizerConnecticutLabs@Pfizer.com.

Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has awarded $5,000 in grants to three local libraries. Grants of $2,000 and $1,000 were awarded to Slater Library of Jewett City. Also receiving grants of $1,000 were Aldrich Free Public Library of Moosup and Preston Public Library. The foundation also also announced that it has awarded $28,700 in grants to 27 emergency service organizations: Atwood Hose Fire Company of Wauregan, East Brooklyn Fire Department, Griswold Volunteer Fire Department, Jewett City Fire Department/A.A. Young, Jr. Hose and Ladder #1, Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Bungay Fire Brigade of Woodstock and Central Village Fire Department.

Grants totaling $22,100 were awarded to provide annual support for 21 providers: Canterbury Volunteer Fire Department, Attawaugan Fire Department; Dayville Fire Company, East Brooklyn Fire Department, East Killingly Fire Department, Griswold Volunteer Fire Company, Jewett City Fire Department/A.A. Young Jr. Hose and Ladder Company, KB Ambulance Corps. of Killingly, Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department, Moosup Fire Department, Mortlake Fire Company & Ambulance Service of Brooklyn, Oneco Fire Company, Plainfield Fire Company No. 1, Inc., Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Voluntown Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Inc., and Williamsville Fire Engine Company of Rogers.

A grant of $700 was awarded to American Legion Ambulance of Moosup. Grants of $600 were made to Atwood Hose Fire Company of Wauregan, Central Village Fire Company, Danielson Fire Department, Pawcatuck Fire Department, Poquetanuck Fire Department EMS of Preston, Preston City Volunteer Fire Department, South Killingly Fire Department and Westerly Fire Department. A grant of $500 was awarded to Lisbon Ambulance Service.

For more information, visit www.JCSBank.com.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has provided hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment to healthcare organizations and municipalities. In continuation of that effort, the Foundation is distributing more than $1.7 million worth of additional PPE to police and fire departments in the 142 communities where Ocean State Job Lot stores are located across the Northeast.The donations include pallets of PPE including face shields, KN95 masks, antibacterial and disinfecting hand wipes, and hand sanitizer. For more information, visit www.OceanStateJobLot.com.

MEMBERSHIP

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT welcomes its newest members: Connecticut Creative Arts LLC; Custom Canvas Marine; SARAH Inc.; Synodi & Videll, LLC; and Toosie Slide LLC. Visit www.ChamberECT.com to discover a full Chamber member directory.